An MS-13 member was sentenced recently in federal court in Boston for racketeering conspiracy involving the murder of a 15-year-old boy in East Boston.

Joel Martinez, a/k/a “Animal,” 23, a Salvadoran national formerly residing in East Boston, was sentenced to 40 years in prison and two years of supervised release. Martinez will be subject to deportation upon completion of his sentence. In December 2017, Martinez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity, more commonly referred to as RICO conspiracy.

Martinez admitted that on Sept. 20, 2015, he murdered a 15-year-old boy on Trenton Street in East Boston. During recorded conversations between Martinez and a cooperating witness, Martinez acknowledged being a member of MS-13 and admitted that he stabbed the victim to death. Specifically, Martinez said, “I stabbed the culero three times,” and stated, “He stared at me and he asked me if I was going to, if I was going to stab him. I told him, ‘Yes, the Mara rules you.’” After the murder, Martinez was “jumped in” and made a “homeboy,” or full member of MS-13’s Eastside Loco Salvatrucha (ESLS) clique during a ceremony that was surreptitiously recorded by agents. When a prospective member is “jumped in,” members of the MS-13 clique beat the new member with their hands and feet while one of the leaders of the clique counts aloud slowly to thirteen.

Sen. Sal DiDomenico (D-Everett) and his colleagues in the Massachusetts Senate unanimously adopted a bill designed to protect the health, safety and well-being of animals. S.2332, “An Act to protect animal welfare and safety in cities and towns” (PAWS II), expands on gains first secured in the original PAWS law which was filed in response to the Puppy Doe animal abuse case of 2014.

“I was proud to support this important piece of legislation that strengthens and adds to the animal safety and welfare protections created under the original PAWS bill,” said Sen. DiDomenico, Assistant Majority Leader of the Massachusetts Senate. “This bill sends a strong message that animal cruelty will not be tolerated, and we will continue working to ensure that all animals are treated humanely here in the Commonwealth.”

“The Puppy Doe animal torture case inspired strong legislative action designed to increase protections for animals and prevent animal cruelty and neglect. PAWS II builds on the foundations of our original law and will ensure that abuse is reported and enforced, that animal drownings are outlawed, and that our animal control laws reflect the seriousness of animal torture and abuse,” said Sen. Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester), Minority Leader of the Massachusetts and the original sponsor of the bill.

“Our commitment towards ending the cruel and inhumane treatment of innocent animals is steadfast, and today we have taken significant action to protect their safety and welfare,” said Chairman Mark Montigny (D-New Bedford), a longtime champion of animal welfare legislation. “There is zero tolerance for such despicable brutality and today’s action by the Senate sends a clear message.”

“We do not tolerate animal cruelty in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,” said Senate President Harriette L. Chandler (D-Worcester). “This legislation ensures that animals are treated humanely and that those who engage in animal cruelty are punished. One animal that dies of mistreatment is one animal too many.”

PAWS II will enhance humane treatment of animals, expand the role of mandated reporters, and punish those who engage in animal cruelty. Key components of the bill include provisions to:

ensure abuse is reported;

ensure efficient enforcement of animal control laws;

prohibit the drowning of wild and domestic animals;

prohibit engaging in sexual contact with an animal;

remove automatic killing of animals involved in animal fighting;

add animal crimes to the list of offenses that serve as the basis for a request for a determination of detention and or release upon conditions;

prohibit discrimination against specific dog breeds; and

require abandoned animal checks in vacant properties.

The bill now moves to the House of Representatives for further consideration.

Jamie-Lee Hersey, of Wakefield, was driving along Revere Beach Parkway at approximately 11 p.m. on Tuesday night when she came across a severely injured dog in the middle of the road alongside Simoniz Car Wash. Instinctively, she immediately pulled over to help the dog, and was joined by another good Samaritan, Chris Desrochers, of Revere, who stopped to assist.

Together, Hersey and Desrochers barricaded the small dog between barrels at the car wash in order to shield it from further injury as they contacted the Everett Police Department.

Within minutes, Everett Animal Control Officer Stacia Gorgone was on scene to assist, despite being off duty at the time. Gorgone described the scene as gruesome.

“The bottom half of his body was mutilated” she said about the small dog, and she suspected that he would need a leg amputation if he managed to survive.

A video reveals the dog was idle in the middle of the road, but the injuries are more consistent with a fall as opposed to being struck by a vehicle. After the story circulated on social media, Animal Control received an anonymous tip that someone had witnessed what they believed was a sweatshirt, thrown from a vehicle window at the same location within the same time range. The Everett Police Department are currently investigating whether these injuries were a case of abuse or an unintentional accident. Nobody has come forward to claim the dog as their own.

“It’s not clear if it’s intentional or an accident,” Gorgone explained, concerned after hearing the witness account.

While vets originally tried to save the dog’s leg, Gorgone shared the dog has since had his leg amputated, but is under great care.

“He is doing amazing,” she shared. “He got his leg amputated as to not prolong suffering.”

The dog is currently under care with the DogMother LLC, a local holding facility for animals. Due to high medical bills, a GoFundMe has been set up to alleviate expenses. Already, over $9,000 has been accumulated, but volunteers are working relentlessly to raise more funding.

Since the incident, Hersey and Desrochers have already been in the process of adopting rescue dogs of their own. Gorgone, who is an advocate for animal rescue, explained this is the silver lining to the injured pup’s story: “Not only did they save this dog, but they were inspired to rescue other dogs, too.”

Donations can be made at https://www.gofundme.com/HelpJamiePup and anyone with further information about the indecent is encouraged to contact the Everett Police Department at 617-387-1212.

Describing it as a “wonderful thing” on FBI surveillance tapes, the cold-blooded murderer of Irvin Depazm, 15, of Chelsea, has now been brought to justice.

An MS-13 member pleaded guilty on Thursday, Dec. 14, in federal court in Boston to racketeering conspiracy involving the murder of a 15-year-old boy in East Boston.

Joel Martinez, a/k/a “Animal,” 23, a Salvadoran national formerly residing in East Boston, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity, more commonly referred to as RICO conspiracy. U.S. District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV scheduled sentencing for March 22, 2018.

Martinez was identified as a member of MS-13’s Eastside Loco Salvatrucha (ESLS) clique, which operated in Chelsea, Everett, and elsewhere in greater Boston.

Martinez admitted that on Sept. 20, 2015, he murdered a Depazm, 15, on Trenton Street in East Boston.

In recorded conversations between Martinez and a cooperating witness, Martinez acknowledged being a member of MS-13 and admitted that he stabbed the victim to death. Specifically, Martinez said, “I stabbed the (expletive deleted) three times, and it was a beautiful thing! Just beautiful!”

As a result of the murder, Martinez was “jumped in” and made a “homeboy,” or full member of MS-13, during a ceremony that was surreptitiously recorded by federal agents. When a prospective member is “jumped in,” members of the MS-13 clique beat the new member with their hands and feet while one of the leaders of the clique counts aloud slowly to 13.

After a three-year investigation, Martinez was one of 61 individuals named in a superseding indictment targeting the criminal activities of alleged leaders, members, and associates of MS-13 in Massachusetts. Martinez is the 27th defendant to plead guilty in this case.

Martinez faces up to life in prison, five years of supervised release, and will be subject to deportation upon the completion of his sentence.

Ten Chelsea firefighters completed trench rescue training last week at the Boston Fire Academy on Moon Island. The trench rescue training was sponsored by the Metro-Boston Homeland Security Region and is part of Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) Search and Rescue Unit training. This training prepares firefighters to operate safely and effectively during rescue operations of entrapped persons by using specialized equipment, emergency shoring systems and rescuer constructed retrieval systems.

“This training is beneficial to the department, especially with the numerous construction projects ongoing throughout the city” said Deputy Chief John Quatieri. “There are construction crews working in trenches all over the city, the fire department would be responsible for rescuing those workers should something go wrong.”

IMPERSONATING A POLICE OFFICER IN DOG JAM

On Saturday July 25, shortly after 6 p.m., officers responded to corner Broadway and Parker Street and spoke to a male victim who was walking his dog. He told officers he just had an altercation with a male who was also walking a dog. Apparently, their dogs got tangled up in the leashes and it infuriated the suspect.

During the time of trying get the dogs separated, the victim stated that the male, later identified as Glen Turczyn, 45, of 64 Parker St. became irate and lifted his shirt up exposing to the victim what he believed to be a black firearm. The victim also noticed what looked like a police “walkie talkie.”

He alleges Turczyn to have stated that he was a Chelsea Police Officer and Turczyn gave the victim a made up badge number. The victim states that the subject then threated to do harm to his dog with the firearm. Fearing for his safety, he left the area and was able to observe a partial license plate of the subject. Chelsea Dispatch Center was able to do a query of the partial plate, which led to the subject’s address.

Officers then placed Turczyn under arrest without incident.

No firearm was recovered.

SIGNIFICANT ARREST ON WASHINGTON AVE.

Chelsea Police and federal Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) officials made a significant drug and weapons arrest on Wednesday, July 22, at a home on Washington Avenue.

The long-term investigation was the result of a cooperative effort and led to the arrest of one man, Roberto Jimenez.

Police have filed charges against a 58 year old motorist who turned over his car on the Parkway near Webster Avenue on July 19.

There were two injuries in the crash, but non were life threatening.

The crash happened around 8:45 a.m.

David Pezzulo, 58, was charged with operating with a suspended license, failure to stop and operating an unregistered vehicle.

One Arraigned, Another in Custody, in Deaths of Two Dogs

A Swampscott man was arraigned Tuesday in Chelsea District Court in the killing of two dogs whose bodies were found behind a Revere gas station late last year, while a second man in New York has been taken into custody on a warrant issued in connection with the case.

Jason Gentry, 35, of Swampscott, was arraigned in Chelsea District Court on two counts each of malicious killing of an animal and animal cruelty. At the request of Assistant District Attorney Vincent DeMore, Gentry’s bail was set at $1,000.

A second man, Dominick Donovan, 51, of Long Beach, New York, has been taken into custody in New York and faces arraignment at a later date.

DeMore told the court that the bodies of two dogs were discovered in a trash bag behind a Revere gas station on Nov. 22. A necropsy performed by the Animal Rescue League of Boston determined that the dogs – one female and one male – were both approximately 20 weeks old and had been in good bodily condition when they were killed.

The dogs were determined to be Donovan Pinschers – a breed created by Donovan.During the course of their investigation, Revere Police detectives learned that at the time of their deaths, both dogs had been in Gentry’s care at the training facility he operated, Alpha Canine Performance of Lynn. Donovan arrived at the location in November to transport the animals back to New York. In a post-Miranda interview with police, Gentry made statements indicating that on Nov. 2, the dogs were hung at the facility until they stopped breathing because each failed to meet the standards for the breed, prosecutors said.

Gentry was represented by Eric Stone. He returns to court Sept. 3.

SAFETY SERVICE FOR ELDERLY RESIDENTS

A new service for elderly residents called SafetyNew Service is being debuted by police.

The service helps police find and rescue people who wander and get lost in the city. SafetyNew by Lojack aims to protect residents with autism and Alzheimer’s Disease. The CPD has been trained and certified on the SafetyNet service. Officers are equipped with search and rescue equipment so they are able to locate anyone who signs up for the program and goes missing.

Lojack provides emergency support 24-hours a day.

The service uses bracelets for the wrist or ankle that emit a signal. Chelsea Police can detect the signal from the bracelet within a one-mile radius during searches.

One would have thought they were giving away free iPads at the Chelsea Public Library last week as the Summer Reading Program began in earnest, but the popularity lay in good, old fashioned books and a focus on keeping kids engaged in reading over the lazy summer months.

From movies to working their way to becoming a superhero, kids in Chelsea have plenty to do at the Library this summer.

“This year, the Summer Reading Club has become very popular and the theme is ‘Every Hero Has a Story,’” said Martha Boksenbaum, children’s librarian. “This year, when the kids sign up they receive a superhero cutout. Each time they come to the library, they get to put another part of super hero gear on the cutout. If they fill up the super hero with gear, they get a real super hero cape. We are emphasizing super heroes this year, and we’ll have real life superheroes visiting the library.”

There will be police officers, animal handlers and a special super hero training as well. Boksenbaum took the unique step this year of visiting all of the elementary schools dressed as a super hero to drum up support for the program, and to bridge the gap between the library and the schools.

“I did go to the schools dressed as a super hero and that was exciting for the kids,” she said. “That has brought us a larger number of excited children showing up at the library to see what that’s all about.”

Students will also get credit at school this fall for completing the Summer Reading Club.

Events include:

•Thurs., July 9, Sparky’s Puppets, 11 a.m.

•Friday, July 10, Movie: Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, 2 p.m.

•Monday, July 13, Movie: Penguins of Madagascar, 2 p.m.

•Thursday, July 16, Jungle Jim: Superhero Training, 11 a.m.

•Thursday, July 23, Jenny the Juggler, 11 a.m.

•Tuesday, July 28, Movie: Frozen, 5:30 p.m.

•Thursday, July 30, Meet the Chelsea Police Dogs, 11 a.m.

•Thursday, Aug. 6, Great Big Faces Cartoonist, 2 p.m.

•Monday, Aug. 10, Movie: Cinderella, 2 p.m.

•Thursday, Aug. 13, Animal Adventures, 11 a.m.

•Thursday, Aug. 20, Make a Superhero Mask, 3:30 p.m.

Another popular feature of this year’s summer program at the library is that each week is that every week a teacher from one of the elementary schools will be at the library to read with their students. That will happen every Tuesday.

“That was exceptionally popular last year with more than 100 kids showing up every week,” she said. “So, we will do that again and get all four schools in the complex participating. We’ll emphasize one school each week. We had the Kelly School last week and it was a big hit again.”

There will also be a drop in Lego Club available and the age newborn to 6 Raising a Reader Stories in the Park program every Wedne

Children’s Librarian Martha Boksenbaum of the Chelsea Public Library has kicked off the Summer Reading Club and a whole host of activitiesthis summer for young people in Chelsea to peruse.

sday morning as well.

“We have a lot going on and I’m very excited about it,” said Boksenbaum. “Last year, we increased our programs and I think this year will be even more exciting and successful. Chelsea Public Library is very busy during the school year, but it’s in the summer that the library really explodes with activity. We get so many kids coming in.”

The passing of Arnie Goodman removes from the local scene a man who truly gave his heart and soul to everything that was Chelsea on so many levels.

Arnie loved the city in which he was born and raised, and though Chelsea changed greatly over the decades, he never forgot his roots. Arnie was a beloved English teacher at the Shurtleff School and later taught English and physical education at the Williams School and Chelsea High School. But unlike many in his profession who go home at the end of the school day, Arnie’s work was just beginning when the final school bell rang. He ran the Shurtleff Intramural Basketball League and also served for many years as the junior varsity basketball coach and head coach of the Chelsea High boys basketball team. Arnie himself was an outstanding basketball player at CHS (from which he graduated with the Class of 1950) and went on to play basketball at Boston University. In all of these capacities, he served as a mentor to countless generations of students in the local school system.

In addition to his professional responsibilities, Arnie served in countless other roles in our community. He was a man of boundless energy and enthusiasm, who was a player and President of the Chelsea Municipal Fast Pitch Softball League during its heyday when the league nightly drew large crowds to Carter Park when the local loop was one of the best softball leagues in the area. Among his other well-known roles, Arnie was one of the originators of the Wild Animal Basketball League at the YMHA for young men; he was the Voice of the Red Devils as the public address announcer at Chelsea High football games; he wrote the “Sports of All Sorts” column for The Chelsea Record; he was one of the founders of the Chelsea High Sports Hall of Fame; and he was a member of the Chelsea Grand Reunion Committee (which held its gala reunion event Saturday night at Chelsea High), attending its regular meetings until recently when his long and courageous battle with pancreatic cancer finally began to take its toll.

For those of us who knew Arnie Goodman for literally almost our entire lives, we’ll remember that every conversation with “The Professor” was an enjoyable occasion, marked by his vast knowledge on virtually every subject and always intermingled with his opinions, wit, and sense of irony that is born and bred into everyone who grew up as a member of a certain generation in this city.

Arnie Goodman was a man who was respected and liked by all who had the good fortune to know him. When he turned 80 last year, there was a great birthday celebration conducted by family and friends at the Continental Restaurant. Arnie made an emotional speech on that day, thanking his family and friends for the tribute. We know we join with countless thousands of others in sending our condolences to his beloved wife Marlene and his daughters Kimberley and Carrie. He was a one of a kind person who really will be missed.